About the Educational Psychology Service

The Educational Psychology Service is part of the Education and Children’s Services Directorate, offering advice and support to all Fife schools. We specialise in Relationships and Behaviour, Learning and Teaching, and Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Educational Psychologists work at different levels:

• Children and families
• School/Establishment
• Local Authority
• National

What is an Educational Psychologist?

We work closely with parents, teachers and other professionals to help children succeed and make the most of their education. Every school in Fife has an Educational Psychologist who links regularly to the school.

When do we become involved?

A school can always contact their link Educational Psychologist for a ‘no name consultation’ – a consultation around a case-specific issue, where no names are recorded, and the pupil is not identified. This can be useful for general advice about additional support needs.

If you are concerned about your child’s progress in education, the first person to contact would be someone from your child’s nursery or school.

If you and the nursery/school continue to have concerns about your child’s learning, development or behaviour, the school/nursery may seek further advice from us. This will always happen with your permission.

You may also contact the Service directly for advice.

School Support

To support teaching and learning, we also offer the following work to all schools:

• Training and school development work
• Research and evaluation.

What do we do?

As a parent, you are the person who knows your child best, and the information you can give us about your child is important.

With your agreement we may:

• Speak with key people around your child (e.g. teachers and any other professionals involved), to find out what is working well and what difficulties your child is facing
• Provide advice about any additional support needs and how they can be met
• Speak to your child
• Observe your child in class.

We may be involved for a short time at key points to provide advice and to allow for support plans to be put into place. If there are concerns about your child’s progress which are ongoing, we may be involved in the assessment and planning processes on a longer-term basis.

What happens to the information gathered?

We will open a file in your child’s name which will contain assessment and planning information. This will contribute to the school’s record keeping and support plans, such as:

• Child’s plans
• Co-ordinated support plan
• Statutory reports (e.g. Children’s Panel).

Getting It Right for Every Child

Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) is a national approach aiming to improve outcomes for all children and young people.

Fife Education and Children’s Services Directorate have developed a range of GIRFEC related policies and guidance documents to support professionals, including Educational Psychologists, working with children, young people and their families. For more information visit girfec.fife.scot

How to contact the Educational Psychology Service

If you have any queries, please get in touch.